Yes, you can use AirPods Pro 2 for running; they are sweat and water-resistant (IPX4) and have good Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency modes for awareness, but their fit is subjective, so they might fall out for some runners, though many find they stay secure, especially with the right tip size, or by adding ear hooks.
Our Verdict. The in-ear fit of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 won't suit everyone when exercising, but otherwise they deliver across the board, with better sound and battery life than the original AirPods Pro, and some of the best active noise cancellation you'll find in truly wireless buds.
Yes you most definitely can, while they may be prone to falling out depending on the type of exercise your doing, running or lifting in them should be perfectly fine.
Much like most wireless earbuds on the market, the and AirPods Pro Gen 1 & 2 and AirPods all have the same annoying yet solvable problem — occasionally falling out of the ear and pain after extended use. This is frustrating, especially for athletes, tella-workers, and your everyday person on the go.
According to Apple's official website, both the earbuds and the charging case are resistant to sweat and water "for non-water sports and exercise," meaning they can withstand sweat and even light showers, but shouldn't be used in the pool under any circumstances.
I have AirPods Pro 2 and they stay in great while running. There's also aftermarket foam tips you can use for comfort and a snug fit. I need little ear cup adapters things and I also use ear hooks that go around my ears. But my ears have never been compatible with AirPods.
AirPods Pro, AirPods 3, and AirPods 4 (both models) are sweat and water resistant, but they are not waterproof or sweatproof. They aren't designed for use in water sports like swimming, or for showering.
Battery life is crucial for long runs, and AirPods 4 have you covered. The standard AirPods 4 offer five hours of listening time (30 hours with the case), while the premium ANC model gives you four hours of playback (20 hours with the case).
Replace the Silicone Ear Tips With Memory Foam Ear Tips
This tip (no pun intended) applies specifically to how to keep AirPod Pro from falling out, since regular AirPods don't have ear tips.
Notable Mentions
And it's not just a style thing. More and more pro athletes are realizing how much constant EMF exposure messes with their focus, recovery, and even sleep. But it's not just your air pods, it's your Wi-Fi, your phone, your laptop, electric vehicles, and even the light from your screen for years that.
The AirPods Pro 2 offers excellent noise cancellation and sound, but the newer AirPods Pro 3 (or the latest gen, depending on the date of review) brings significant upgrades like enhanced ANC, improved sound quality with deeper bass, longer single-charge battery life (8 hrs vs 6 hrs), heart rate tracking, more water resistance, and USB-C charging, making the Pro 3 better for workouts and serious listeners, while the Pro 2 remains a strong value.
With the active Hearing Protection feature, you can use your AirPods to help protect your hearing in loud environments. If you're in a loud environment like a live sporting event or fitness class, you can use your AirPods to help reduce your exposure to loud sounds around you.
The AirPods Pro are a huge upgrade on the AirPods Pro 2 — they have a new design for a better fit, a heart rate monitor, and longer battery life. I've worn them for a week's worth of workouts, from running workouts in the rain to sessions in the gym, and pretty much everything in between over the past week.
Yes, AirPods Pro 2 are worth it for most Apple users due to their stellar Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), excellent sound quality, seamless Apple ecosystem integration, great call clarity, and useful features like Find My integration for the case, offering significant upgrades over the first gen and a premium experience, though they're pricier than non-Apple options and have newer models now available.
Headphones can provide motivation and help you maintain pace, but they can also reduce your awareness of your surroundings. Some running races ban headphones to prioritize safety, especially in trail or technical races.
Men's Fitness verdict
I probably wouldn't buy these Apple buds as specialist running earphones. But they can do the job and are great for the gym (and sound incredible). Adaptive and customisable sounds are first class. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 – aka AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) – are top of Apple's wireless headphones.
Gen Z likes wired headphones for a mix of nostalgia, anti-mainstream style (rejecting AirPods' "tech bro" vibe), and practical benefits like better sound quality, no charging, lower cost, and greater sustainability/longevity, tapping into retro aesthetics and a desire for simpler, more reliable tech, influenced by celebrities like Bella Hadid.
The Pro 2's ANC does a significantly better job of blocking out background noise across the spectrum. Additionally, they have a longer continuous battery life, though they're one extra charge short of their predecessor. Their carrying case has a U1 chip, too, so you can easily locate your case if you lose it.
Your music needs to last longer than your workout. Around-ear headphones often offer lots of battery life, but most people find them too bulky to run in. And while in-ear sport headphones offer a smaller size, it comes at the expense of the space needed for a big battery.
Best Running Headphones
AirPods typically last around two to three years because users feel like they need to replace them. This is due to the lithium batteries slowly degrading over time.
For water-resistant models like the AirPods Pro or AirPods (3rd Generation), a little sweat or a light sprinkle of rain probably won't cause any harm. But if they get soaked or submerged, they could be damaged and stop working.